Magna Seating Inc.

A compliant pivot joint is provided for rotationally coupling a link member to a frame member in a vehicle seat. The compliant pivot joint includes a cup-shaped protrusion having a cup opening formed on the link member, a shoulder bolt having a first shaft portion projecting from a bolt head and terminating at a shoulder, a bias member having a bias opening, and a fastener fixedly coupled to the frame member. The shoulder bolt is fixedly coupled to the fastener and extends through the bias opening and through the cup opening. The bias member is spaced between the cup-shaped protrusion and the bolt head and biases the bolt head away from the cup-shaped protrusion. A curved shoulder surface of the fastener is frictionally engaged with the cup-shaped protrusion and the shoulder of the shoulder bolt is frictionally engaged with an end surface of the fastener.

A seat assembly in an automotive vehicle has a base structure, a swivel mechanism fixedly coupled to the base structure, and a seat cushion pivotally coupled to the swivel mechanism. The seat cushion is pivotable between a seating position and a stadium position. The swivel mechanism is configured to selectively rotate the seat cushion between a forward-facing position and a rearward-facing position. The seat assembly includes a plurality of strikers projecting from the base structure and a kickstand mechanism having a kickstand and a latch mechanism. The kickstand is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion and operatively coupled to the latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to releasably latch to an adjacent one of the strikers when the seat cushion is in the seating position. The kickstand mechanism minimizes fore-aft movement of the swivel mechanism when the latch mechanism is latched to the adjacent one of the strikers.

A remote handle assembly for selectively unlocking a component in a seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a handle bracket having a hole extending laterally through the handle bracket, a pulley having a pivot hole extending axially through the pulley, a handle spline having a passageway extending axially through the handle spline, and a pin extending through the passageway in the handle spline, the pivot hole in the pulley, and the hole in the handle bracket. The pulley is pivotably coupled to the pin between an unactuated position and an actuated position and the handle spline is pivotably coupled to the pin between an unactuated position and an actuated position and the pin is fixedly coupled to the handle bracket and is configured to retain the handle bracket, the pulley, and the handle spline together.

A loop latch release for an automotive seat assembly having a loop latch includes a mounting bracket, a shaft rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket, a rotating cam pivotably coupled to the shaft and including a ratchet gear having notches and a cam having a cam side portion and an actuating portion, a plunger operatively coupled to the cam and transposable between a raised position engaged with the cam side portion and a lowered position engaged with the actuating portion, a lever arm pivotably coupled to the shaft, an arm pawl pivotably coupled to the lever arm and configured to meshingly engage with an adjacent notch on the ratchet gear, and a bracket pawl pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to meshingly engage with an adjacent notch on the ratchet gear.

A seat trim cover for an automotive seat is formed into a 3-dimensional shape by compression molding a laminated moldable foam in a 3-dimensional. The laminated moldable foam comprises at least a layer of cellular polyurethane foam compression moldable in a temperature range of about 220° F. to about 260° F. The 3-dimensional mold is heated to a temperature range of about 150° F. to about 320° F. The layer of cellular foam is adhered to a cover material layer and precut into a pre-laminated blank prior to molding into the 3-dimensional shape. Optionally, seat heaters or other components can be integrated with the laminated foam prior to compression molding the seat trim cover.

A seat assembly ( 10 ) for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion ( 14 ) adapted to be coupled to a floor of the vehicle, a seat back ( 12 ) pivotably coupled to the seat cushion, a striker bar ( 28 ) adapted to be fixedly secured to a support wall in the vehicle, a recliner bracket ( 42 ) pivotally coupled to the seat back ( 12 ), and a latch assembly ( 66 ) pivotally coupled to the recliner bracket ( 42 ) and slidably coupled to the striker bar ( 28 ). Pivotal movement of the recliner bracket ( 42 ) relative to the seat back ( 12 ) causes the latch assembly ( 66 ) to slide along the striker bar ( 28 ) and the seat back ( 12 ) to pivot relative to the seat cushion ( 14 ) between a full recline position and a forward comfort position.

An electronic control unit configured to control at least one motor used to reposition a seat assembly within an automotive vehicle. The electronic control unit comprises a mode manager configured to reposition the seat assembly from a first position to a second position and a performance evaluation module configured to monitor the repositioning of the seat assembly. The performance evaluation module detects and compensates for abrupt stops in the at least one motor.

A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle has a seat base, a seat cushion, and a swivel mechanism. The swivel mechanism includes a lower plate fixedly coupled to the seat base by a structure attachment, an upper plate rotatably coupled to the lower plate, and a modular carrier assembly fixedly coupled to the upper plate and fixedly coupled to the seat cushion. The modular carrier assembly includes a tubular frame fixedly coupled to the upper plate. The tubular frame includes a front portion and a rear portion extending between a left portion and a right portion with the tubular frame surrounding around an opening extending vertically therethrough providing vertical access to lower attachment holes in the seat base.

A swivel mechanism ( 20 ) for a seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle has a base plate ( 38 ), a swivel plate ( 92 ) pivotally coupled to the base plate and having an inner flange ( 96 ), an outer ring ( 106 ), and an outer flange ( 108 ). The swivel mechanism also includes a retaining ring ( 54 ) having a ring portion ( 60 ) and fixedly coupled to the base plate with the inner flange ( 96 ) spaced axially between the ring portion ( 60 ) and the base plate ( 38 ). The swivel mechanism also includes a bearing plate ( 72 ) comprising an upper channel ( 78 ) extending in the circumferential direction and a J-shaped channel ( 80 ). The J-shaped channel has an inner side ( 82 ) projecting axially upward from the upper channel ( 78 ), an outer side ( 84 ) projecting axially downward and spaced radially outward from the inner side ( 82 ), and a radial portion ( 86 ) extending radially between the inner side and the outer side with the outer side ( 84 ) fixedly coupled to the base plate.

A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle has a fixed member, a rotating member pivotally coupled to the fixed member, and a linear dampener having a proximal end and a distal end fixedly coupled to the rotating member. The linear dampener includes a rotary dampener having a rotor shaft, a lead screw fixedly coupled to the rotor shaft, and a nut meshingly engaged with the lead screw and configured to travel along the lead screw causing the lead screw to rotate. The seat assembly includes an activation link pivotally coupled to the nut and pivotally coupled to the fixed member. Pivoting the rotating member causes the nut to travel along the lead screw causing the lead screw to rotate at a rotation speed and the rotary dampener dampens the rotation speed of the lead screw as the lead screw rotates to dampen the pivotal movement of the rotating member relative to the fixed member.